The 2019 NHL playoff bracket is set and the schedule has been released, meaning it's finally time to sit back and enjoy the best two months in hockey.
The chase for the 2019 Stanley Cup starts Wednesday, April 10, with a jam-packed slate of five games, starting at 7 p.m. ET when the Presidents' Trophy-winning Lightning, who tied the NHL record with 62 wins in the regular season, host the Blue Jackets.
MORE: Watch NHL playoff games live & on demand with fuboTV (7-day trial)
The action continues at 7:30 p.m. ET with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins against the upstart Barry Trotz-led Islanders on NBCSN. And then it's out to the Western Conference for a late-evening three pack. The Blues visit the Jets (8 p.m. ET), the Predators host the Stars (9:30 p.m. ET) and the Golden Knights and Sharks round out opening day with the nightcap (10:30 p.m. ET).
On Thursday, April 11, the remaining three series get underway, highlighted by the defending Stanley Cup champion Capitals and the rematch of last year's first-round thriller between the Bruins and Maple Leafs.
Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs could last a full 14 days; potential Game 7s are scheduled for April 24.
Below you'll find everything to know about watching the 2019 NHL playoffs, including series-by-series TV schedules and live-streaming information.
LIVE: Today's NHL scores, updates, TV schedule
2019 NHL playoffs bracket
NHL playoffs 2019: TV channels, live stream
- TV: NBC, NBCSN, USA, CNBC, NHLN
- Stream: NBC Sports Live | fuboTV (free trial)
- Live scores: SN Scoreboard
The 2019 NHL playoffs will be broadcast across NBC's family of networks in the United States. First-round games are scattered across NBC, NBCSN, USA and CNBC through as late as April 24. From there, the second round on will be covered exclusively by NBC and NBCSN. NBC will show every game during the Stanley Cup Final.
The primary outlet for live-streaming 2019 NHL playoff games is NBC Sports Live, available on desktop and by downloading the mobile app. You can also stream games live by signing up for fuboTV, which offers a free seven-day trial.
Mike Emrick, Mike Milbury and Pierre McGuire are NBC's lead broadcast team for the NHL playoffs.
NHL playoffs schedule, results by series
Boston Bruins vs. St. Louis Blues
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| May 27 | Bruins 4, Blues 2 | BOS leads series 1-0 |
| May 29 | Blues 3, Bruins 2 (OT) | Series tied 1-1 |
| June 1 | Bruins 7, Blues 2 | BOS leads series 2-1 |
| June 3 | Blues 4, Bruins 2 | Series tied 2-2 |
| June 6 | Blues 2, Bruins 1 | STL leads series 3-2 |
| June 9 | Bruins 5, Blues 1 | Series tied 3-3 |
| June 12 | Blues 4, Bruins 1 | STL wins series 4-3 |
Boston Bruins vs. Carolina Hurricanes
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| May 9 | Bruins 5, Hurricanes 2 | BOS leads series 1-0 |
| May 12 | Bruins 6, Hurricanes 2 | BOS leads series 2-0 |
| May 14 | Bruins 2, Hurricanes 1 | BOS leads series 3-0 |
| May 16 | Bruins 4, Hurricanes 0 | BOS wins series 4-0 |
San Jose Sharks vs. St. Louis Blues
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| May 11 | Sharks 6, Blues 3 | SJS leads series 1-0 |
| May 13 | Blues 4, Sharks 2 | Series tied 1-1 |
| May 15 | Sharks 5, Blues 4 (OT) | SJS leads series 2-1 |
| May 17 | Blues 2, Sharks 1 | Series tied 2-2 |
| May 19 | Blues 5, Sharks 0 | STL leads series 3-2 |
| May 21 | Blues 5, Sharks 1 | STL wins series 4-2 |
(*if necessary)
Round 2
Eastern Conference
Boston Bruins (A2) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (WC2)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 25 | Bruins 3, Blue Jackets 2 | BOS leads series 1-0 |
| April 27 | Blue Jackets 3, Bruins 2 (2OT) | Series tied 1-1 |
| April 30 | Blue Jackets 2, Bruins 1 | CBJ leads series 2-1 |
| May 2 | Bruins 4, Blue Jackets 1 | Series tied 2-2 |
| May 4 | Bruins 4, Blue Jackets 3 | BOS leads series 3-2 |
| May 6 | Bruins 3, Blue Jackets 0 | BOS wins series 4-2 |
New York Islanders (M2) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (WC1)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 26 | Hurricanes 1, Islanders 0 (OT) | CAR leads series 1-0 |
| April 28 | Hurricanes 2, Islanders 1 | CAR leads series 2-0 |
| May 1 | Hurricanes 5, Islanders 2 | CAR leads series 3-0 |
| May 3 | Hurricanes 5, Islanders 2 | CAR wins series 4-0 |
Western Conference
San Jose Sharks (P2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (WC2)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 26 | Sharks 5, Avalanche 2 | SJS leads series 1-0 |
| April 28 | Avalanche 4, Sharks 3 | Series tied 1-1 |
| April 30 | Sharks 4, Avalanche 2 | SJS leads series 2-1 |
| May 2 | Avalanche 3, Sharks 0 | Series tied 2-2 |
| May 4 | Sharks 2, Avalanche 1 | SJS leads series 3-2 |
| May 6 | Avalanche 4, Sharks 3 | Series tied 3-3 |
| May 8 | Sharks 3, Avalanche 2 | SJS wins series 4-3 |
*If necessary
St. Louis Blues (C3) vs. Dallas Stars (WC1)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 25 | Blues 3, Stars 2 | STL leads series 1-0 |
| April 27 | Stars 4, Blues 2 | Series tied 1-1 |
| April 29 | Blues 4, Stars 3 | STL leads series 2-1 |
| May 1 | Stars 4, Blues 2 | Series tied 2-2 |
| May 3 | Stars 2, Blues 1 | DAL leads series 3-2 |
| May 5 | Blues 4, Stars 1 | Series tied 3-3 |
| May 7 | Blues 2, Stars 1 (2OT) | STL wins series 4-3 |
Round 1
Eastern Conference
Tampa Bay Lightning (A1) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (WC2)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 10 | Blue Jackets 4, Lightning 3 | CBJ leads series 1-0 |
| April 12 | Blue Jackets 5, Lightning 1 | CBJ leads series 2-0 |
| April 14 | Blue Jackets 3, Lightning 1 | CBJ leads series 3-0 |
| April 16 | Blue Jackets 7, Lightning 3 | CBJ wins series 4-0 |
Boston Bruins (A2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (A3)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 11 | Maple Leafs 4, Bruins 1 | TOR leads series 1-0 |
| April 13 | Bruins 4, Maple Leafs 1 | Series tied 1-1 |
| April 15 | Maple Leafs 3, Bruins 2 | TOR leads series 2-1 |
| April 17 | Bruins 6, Maple Leafs 4 | Series tied 2-2 |
| April 19 | Maple Leafs 2, Bruins 1 | TOR leads series 3-2 |
| April 21 | Bruins 4, Maple Leafs 2 | Series 3-3 |
| April 23 | Bruins 5, Maple Leafs 1 | BOS wins series 4-3 |
(*if necessary)
Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (WC1)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 11 | Capitals 4, Hurricanes 2 | WSH leads series 1-0 |
| April 13 | Capitals 4, Hurricanes 3 (OT) | WSH leads series 2-0 |
| April 15 | Hurricanes 5, Capitals 0 | WSH leads series 2-1 |
| April 18 | Hurricanes 2, Capitals 1 | Series tied 2-2 |
| April 20 | Capitals 6, Hurricanes 0 | WSH leads series 3-2 |
| April 22 | Hurricanes 5, Capitals 2 | Series tied 3-3 |
| April 24 | Hurricanes 4, Capitals 3 (2OT) | CAR wins series 4-3 |
(*if necessary)
New York Islanders (M2) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (M3)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 10 | Islanders 4, Penguins 3 (OT) | NYI leads series 1-0 |
| April 12 | Islanders 3, Penguins 1 | NYI leads series 2-0 |
| April 14 | Islanders 4, Penguins 1 | NYI leads series 3-0 |
| April 16 | Islanders 3, Penguins 1 | NYI wins series 4-0 |
Western Conference
Calgary Flames (P1) vs. Colorado Avalanche (WC2)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 11 | Flames 4, Avalanche 0 | CGY leads series 1-0 |
| April 13 | Avalanche 3, Flames 2 (OT) | Series tied 1-1 |
| April 15 | Avalanche 6, Flames 2 | COL leads series 2-1 |
| April 17 | Avalanche 3, Flames 2 (OT) | COL leads series 3-1 |
| April 19 | Avalanche 5, Flames 1 | COL wins series 4-1 |
(*if necessary)
San Jose Sharks (P2) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (P3)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 10 | Sharks 5, Golden Knights 2 | SJS leads series 1-0 |
| April 12 | Golden Knights 5, Sharks 3 | Series tied 1-1 |
| April 14 | Golden Knights 6, Sharks 3 | VGK leads series 2-1 |
| April 16 | Golden Knights 5, Sharks 0 | VGK leads series 3-1 |
| April 18 | Sharks 5, Golden Knights 2 | VGK leads series 3-2 |
| April 21 | Sharks 2, Golden Knights 1 | Series tied 3-3 |
| April 23 | Sharks 5, Golden Knights 4 (OT) | SJS wins series 4-3 |
(*if necessary)
Nashville Predators (C1) vs. Dallas Stars (WC1)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 10 | Stars 3, Predators 2 | DAL leads series 1-0 |
| April 13 | Predators 2, Stars 1 (OT) | Series tied 1-1 |
| April 15 | Predators 3, Stars 2 | NSH leads series 2-1 |
| April 17 | Stars 5, Predators 1 | Series tied 2-2 |
| April 20 | Stars 5, Predators 3 | DAL leads series 3-2 |
| April 22 | Stars 2, Predators 1 | DAL wins series 4-2 |
(*if necessary)
Winnipeg Jets (C2) vs. St. Louis Blues (C3)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 10 | Blues 2, Jets 1 | STL leads series 1-0 |
| April 12 | Blues 4, Jets 3 | STL leads series 2-0 |
| April 14 | Jets 6, Blues 3 | STL leads series 2-1 |
| April 16 | Jets 2, Blues 1 (OT) | Series tied 2-2 |
| April 18 | Blues 3, Jets 2 | STL leads series 3-2 |
| April 20 | Blues 3, Jets 2 | STL wins series 4-2 |
(*if necessary)
